FIFA’s first-ever World Cup halftime show transformed the tournament final into a Super Bowl-style spectacle, but the decision immediately divided football fans around the world.
Keep reading to know more.
With Spain and Argentina locked at 0-0 at halftime, the entertainment lineup featured some of the biggest names in music, including Madonna, Shakira, BTS, Justin Bieber, Burna Boy, and Coldplay.
The final at MetLife Stadium also attracted a star-studded audience, with celebrities including Tom Cruise, Timothée Chalamet, Kylie Jenner, Matt Damon, and Adrien Brody watching from the stands.
One of the night’s strangest moments came when Madonna performed her 2000 hit Music after being driven onto the pitch by Brazilian football legends Ronaldo Nazário and Ronaldinho. The unexpected combination quickly went viral, with fans joking that they never expected to see two World Cup icons chauffeuring the pop superstar.
“This is just embarrassing seeing Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, the best that sports have produced, doing meaningless stuff, riding a car next to Madonna, not up at all to their standards!!!” one person wrote.
The Muppets also made an appearance, performing Seven Nation Army, the iconic song that has become a football anthem. Their performance paid tribute to Norway’s viral “rowing” celebration, with the national team’s players appearing on the stadium screens recreating the synchronized move.
Not every performance received the same reception. BTS made a highly anticipated return to the global stage following the group’s hiatus, performing their 2020 hit Dynamite.
Justin Bieber also became part of one of the show’s most unexpected moments when Jason Sudeikis returned as Ted Lasso, with Brendan Hunt as Coach Beard. The fictional football coach gave Bieber a humorous pre-performance pep talk, treating the singer as though he were a player about to enter the match. The segment divided viewers, although Ted Lasso fans generally enjoyed the crossover.
However, some were less than impressed with the performance; one person wrote, “Shakira moving to save the day after the ass Justin Bieber did.” While another frustrated football fan added, “the world cup halftime show is so fucking funny. do americans know no one outside the US watches ted lasso”
Shakira, meanwhile, was widely praised for her energetic performance with Nigerian singer Burna Boy. Having previously performed at multiple World Cups with hits such as Waka Waka and La La La, the Colombian superstar once again proved to be a natural fit for football’s biggest stage. Many viewers even joked that she had become the unofficial “godmother” of World Cup entertainment.
“Is Shakira to the World Cup what Mariah Carey is to Christmas?” one person wrote.
The show concluded with Coldplay performing We Dance, an original song written by frontman Chris Martin specifically for the event. The band was joined by the PS22 Chorus, Emmanuel Kelly, the Muppets, Sesame Street characters, and other performers in a finale centered on unity and hope.
The halftime show was also tied to a charitable initiative. Organized in partnership with Global Citizen, the event supported the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which reportedly surpassed $60 million to help expand educational opportunities for children around the world.
Despite the star power and charitable message, many football fans remained unconvinced by the new format. Some argued that the World Cup final should remain focused entirely on the sport, while others complained that the performances disrupted the atmosphere and traditions of the tournament.
“Music show at World Cup final halftime. Wtf is FIFA thinking??? It’s not SuperBowl,” one person wrote. “Feels like FIFA World Cup final is played between a music concert which is the main event,” another added.
What did you think of the FIFA World Cup half-time performance? Let us know in the comments section on Facebook.
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